bristow



(No Model.) Z'Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. BRISTOW.

CYCLING SKIRT. No. 584,106. Patented June 8, 1897.

m: imam: vnsns co. mm'ou'mo wusmscm. a. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. BRISTOW.

OYOLING SKIRT.

No. 584,106. Patented June 8,1897.

INVENTEIF! VVITNEEES E5 Mud 1M MW UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES BBlSTOlV, OF WELLINGTON, NEW 'ZEALAND.

CYCLING-SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,106, dated June 8,1897.

Application filed January 13, 1897. Serial No. 619,089. (No model.)

To (all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BRISTOW, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at 54: Lambtou Quay, in the city of Wellington, in theColony of New Zealand, have invented a new or Improved Skirt Attachmentfor Use by Lady Cyclists, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to skirts used bylady cyclists, and has forits object to pro vide an attachment whereby the skirt may be kept inits proper position when the rider is facing the wind, thus insuringthat the skirt shall not rise to an inconvenientor uncomfortable heightor over the knees.

Itis well known to lady cyclists that considerable difiiculty isexperienced in keeping the skirt properly adjusted, and great discomfortand embarrassment frequently arises through the skirt being caught bythe wind and blown over the riders knees. Attempts have been made toovercome this disadvantags and drawback, such as loops of elastic orother material attached to the skirt and slipped upon the leg. Thesedevices have objections, such as tearing the lining of the skirt,chafing the legs, and impeding the free action of the same.

It is the object of this invention to provide an attachment which shallleave an unimpeded action to the legs while pedaling, mounting ordismounting, walking or running, and at the same time effectuallyprevent undue displacement of the skirt or dust from rising within thesame.

The attachment may be made unobservable or finished so as to have afancy appearance, is portable, may be readily attached to any ordinaryskirt, be easily and quickly detached, is light in weight, andinexpensive to manufacture.

With this attachment a skirt may be worn as short as desired withoutfear of an undesirable exhibition, so that the riders attention may bedevoted wholly to managing her machine and her mind relieved of allanxiety as to the condition of the skirt.

The object of the invention is attained and carried into effect byfixing a band of webbing to the lining at the front of the skirt andextending around the inside of the same from one side seam to the other.A height of about nine inches from the bottom of the skirt will be founda convenient one at which to attach the band, but this height will varyslightly with the length of the skirt. Eyes are sewed to this band atsuitable distances to engage with hooks provided upon the attachmentproper. Any ordinary hooks may be used, but a book of specialconstruction, to be hereinafter described, is preferred. The books areattached to elastic springs arranged around the front of the attachmentto support the same, and a band at the back and garters and loops at thesides support the back and sides, respectively.

The attachment proper is cut in a special form and is designed toprevent the central portion from sagging when the rider is walking andyet give freedom for a long stride.

In order that the invention may be most easily understood by one skilledin the art to which it appertains, a description shall now be given indetail, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, whereon-Figure 1 is a representation ofthe pattern of the attachment. Fig. 2 isa view of the pattern of a large gusset. Fig. 3 is a view of the patternof a small gusset. Fig. 4 represents the attachment laid out in a flatposition and with its parts affixed. Fig. 5 is a side View of a rightleg with the attachment in section. Fig. 6 is a front view of theattachment in position on the legs, the skirt being removed. Fig. 7 is afront view of an eye and hook of special construction. Fig. 8 is a sideView of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan of the hook.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, the band a, with its eyes a, is fixed bysewing or otherwise inside the liuing of the skirt 8, with the eyespreferably between the lining and the band. The length of this band ismade to correspond to the distance from one side seam of the skirt tothe other.

Hooks l) engage with eyes a to support the attachment d in front andmaybe made in any ordinary form, but preferably as shown on Figs. '7, S,and 9, where an extension Z) of the hook proper is carried around thestem to prevent the eye from disengaging except at the will of therider. From the drawings it will be seen that the eye will not bedisenliable to get out of repair.

gaged merely by falling, when its movement would be arrested by theextension I), but must be carried and twisted around the said extensionbefore it can be removed. An or dinary spring-hook, for example, wouldanswer the purpose, but the hook b is simple, being made in one piece,is cheap, and is not The hooks are attached to springs c, of elastic,which in their turn are fastened at c to the attachment cl and a lengthof webbing d sewed thereon. The springs 0 pass beneath a length ofelastic f, which is retained within a casing f, except where it iscrossed by springs c, and at such places an eyelet-hole is provided, asshown on Fig. 4E. The lengthof elastic f must equal length of band a,and a length of about seven inches will be found convenient for elasticf for most sizes of attachments.

The back of the attachment is supported by a band g, of webbing, Figs. 5and 6, de pending from a button g, supplied upon the inside of thewaistband of the skirt. This band 9 is connected to a shorter length ofwebbing g by a buckle 9 which is in a convenient position for attachingand detaching, the band g being left upon the button g when theattachment is removed. A stay connects band g to gusset 7' to takestrain off the material.

The sides of the attachment are supportec by garters h, connected to theattachment by loops It and slipped upon the legs, as shown on Figs. 5and 6.

In making an attachment as hereinbefore described patterns should bemade as shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3. On pattern j, Fig. 1, the line jshows the division to receive the large gussetj Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6,and lines 7' similarly show divisions for the small gus sets 7' Figs. 3and it. Holes must be out out through which to pass the feet. Thegussets 3' and j and band cl are first sewed into their properpositions, casings f, 3' and k made, attached, and supplied with theirelastics, braces m sewed on, springs c, with their hooks andattachments, having been previously fixed in place and sewed on withband (1. It will be found that the elastic j in casing 7' in conjunctionwith the supports and owing to the shape of the gusset 9' will raise thecentral portion of the attachment cl when the riders feet are neartogether, and thus keep it from sagging and looking unsightly, but whenthe legs are separated the elastic will give to allow the extendedaction without splitting the material. Braces m are made, preferably, ofwebbing, and further secure the attachment from risk of being split.

The attachment is adjusted upon the person in the following manner: Thebutton 1 having been provided upon the waistband. as described herein,and the band 9 attached thereto, the band at having been sewed upon thelining of the skirt, the feet are passed through the garters h and holes7c, the garters being adjusted just below the knees. The band 9 is thenbuckled to the short length y and hooks b engaged with their eyes uponband a. The elastic k will draw up the ma terial around the ankles andeffectually cs clude dust.

The attachment may be made in any material and color, but preferably ofnuns-veiling and black, and may be ornamented by lace or trimmings, andin such case the lace must be attached in a position shown by dottedlines 19, Figs. 1 and 2,'in order to hide the ankles and escapeentanglement with the pedals.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of in ysaidin vention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declarethat what I claim is 1. In combination, the skirt, the attachmentsecured to thefront thereof and having leg-openings, and means forholding the rear of the attachment, said means being independent of therear of the skirt, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the skirt, the attachment having leg-openings andsecured to the front of the skirt, and the band 9 connecting the rear ofthe attachment with the skirtband independent of the rear of the skirt,substantially as described.

3. In combination, the skirt, the attachment secured to the inside ofthe front thereof and having leg-openings, the band 9 extending from thefree rear part of the attachment to the skirt-band and the gartersconnected to the sides of the attachment, the said garters supportingthe sides of the attachment independentof the skirt while the bandsupports the rear of the attachment independent of the skirt,substantially as described.

CHARLES BRISTO\V.

W'itnesses:

D. O. TENNENT, F. 0. WILSON.

